The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-08-05
THE TOBACCO CROP.
Short Acreage, Coupled with Drought !
Promises to Increase the Price of the /
YEeed-Thoss Who Chose Can Take !
Timely Warming:

Short Acreage, Coupled with Drought
Promises to Increase the Price of the
Weed-Thoss who chose Can Take
Timely Warning:
NEW York; July 30.-Those who enjoy
the contempl,Gtive pipe and those who find
Hfe's comfort by nibbling at plug-cake
made out of tobacco and moIasses, will lay
il a good stock Of those commodities early
If they are wise. Small acreage and
drought have caused ain advance in price,
which began last months May is the
planting time. 4 farmer ought to average
6 cents pound for the kind of tobacco
used for smoking and plug making. Last
years average was cents. Thereon gen.
eral disgust prevailed; and when planting
time came around the Indiana and Illinois
farmers, almost en- masse, used their land
for other crops. There was also 3 great
departure from the old ruts in kentucky.
About a month ago, out of 1000 inquiries
more than II 900 replies come from farm
ers outside the famous hurley dis
triet in Kentucky; showing an acre
age iii tobacco Of $500 acres,
against 1918 acres last year. In
the hurley district 49, ,325 acres have been
planted; against 81,663 acres last year.
Virginia repOrts showed a corresponding
diminution of acreage. These reports
spuTted prices at once, the farmers heard
OF the advance; and general preparations
were made for a planting late in June; but
in June a terrible drought was on all
through the tobacco-growing district.
Tobacco must be planted in wet ground.
The farmers held on in the hope of rain,
but none came. Now that rain has faller
it Is too late to plant; for a tobacco croP
must have fiinety days of warm weather.
The feelings and remarks Of the farmers
may be imagined when they hear that the
worst of last years Virginia crop that was
ruined by frcst when in the ground and
has since Ian loose and unprotected, is
now eagerly sous ht at $3.50per 100 pounds
Ordinarily it can not find buyers at 70
cents. Low grade tobacco that went
begging last year at cents pound is
sfiatched up mt 8 cents, and better grades,
high last year at 10 cents, are now at
20 cents. Heavy tobacco has doubled
in price. The average advance for
smoking and plug tobaccos has been at
least $50 per cent. Manufacturers are fast
approaching a corresponding advance in
their prices to the trade. While disgust
and drought are mainly responsible for
present condi tions, speculation has played
an important part. The Spanish Govern
ment has had an agent here yearly to buy
millions of pounds of this class of to-
bacco. The former agent took bids here,
and it was commonly understood that, no
matter who got the award, the trade at
large furnished the supply. a new
agent came. He went to the
farmers direct; then the traders
dumped Prices. AS the agent
agreed to pay the market rates to the
farmers, he was the only gamer by this
move. He wls allowed to repeat this op-
GRAFTON last year, the effect being to dis
gust the farmers with the low prices. This
year the traders are taking their innings
and they have captured all the tobacco.
What the Spanish agent wants he must
get from them. Other European agents
are said to be caught with expensive con-
tracts on hand, so that domestic cOnsum-
ers will have plenty of company in the
prices to be pilid. Leaf tobacco used for
cigars is not affected by the advance.